Refinancing Your House? How a “CEMA” or Consolidation, Extension, & Modification Agreement Can Help

If you’re fortunate enough to be a resident of the great state of New York, then refinancing your home doesn’t have to be as expensive and difficult as it normally is. Whereas most purchasers in the U.S. have to pay the full value of closing costs consisting of loan origination fees, appraisal charges, and credit report costs, buyers of New York are able to save money under CEMA, which stands for Consolidation, Extension, and Modification Agreement.

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In this article, we address the following:

• What is a CEMA mortgage?
• When is CEMA not an option?
• What are the benefits of CEMA?
• What Are the Drawbacks of CEMA loan?
• CEMA vs Refinancing
• How do I get a CEMA?
• How are CEMA taxes calculated?
• What happens if the CEMA is not approved?
• How both Seller and Buyer Benefit from CEMA
• FAQ
• What can a CEMA lawyer do to help?

What is a CEMA Mortgage?

CEMA stands for Consolidation, Extension, & Modification Agreement. CEMA type loans can only be done in New York State. A CEMA loan is an agreement between the existing Lender and the New Lender to combine two or more loans into a new, consolidated loan. This is commonly used by existing homeowners who wish to refinance their home or prospective buyers looking to save on mortgage taxes.

Generally, if the homeowner is planning to refinance their existing first mortgage and has previously paid the New York State mortgage tax, CEMA will allow the homeowner to pay the calculated NYS mortgage tax only on the new money or additional amount above what was originally borrowed. Accordingly, rather than pay the state and local tax on the amount of the mortgage, with a CEMA loan, you’re only paying the tax on the difference between your mortgage amount and the previous loan amount.

For example, if you have a $200,000 mortgage and are refinancing with a $300,000 loan and live in New York City, you would ordinarily have to pay a tax of $300,000 x 1.8 percent (2.05% minus .25% percent paid by lender), or $5,400. With a CEMA loan, you would only pay the 1.8 percent tax on the difference of $100,000, meaning a tax of just $1,800.

No cancellation will be filed on the existing mortgage, and the homeowners’ credit report will reflect the new CEMA mortgage and will report the existing mortgage as transferred.

When is CEMA Not an Option?

Purchase CEMA mortgages are only an option for purchases of one to three family houses or single residential condo units. Accordingly, a co-op apartment does not qualify for CEMA because such real estate is not considered real property; instead, it is considered personal property.

In addition, CEMA is not an option on loans considered to be Home Equity, HELOC, or Second Mortgages, or for mortgages being discharged. CEMA only applies where a mortgage recording tax is applicable and therefore when it comes to paying the mortgage recording.

What Are the Benefits of CEMA?

CEMA loans help save money for those attempting to refinance their home because clients only have to pay taxes on the amount of the new loan that is above and beyond their current unpaid principal balance, otherwise known as “PUB,” such as closing costs or cash out.

When it comes to recording a mortgage, otherwise known as the Mortgage Recording Tax in NYC, buyers are charged 2.05% of the borrowed amount for new mortgages below $500,000; the rate increases to 2.175% of the borrowed amount for new mortgages over $500,000 for 1-3 family residential units and individual residential condo units. Larger multi-family and commercial properties with new mortgages over $500,000 have to pay 2.8% on the borrowed amount.

Because the mortgage recording tax in NYC is only taxed on new borrowings, the buyer will only have the pay the mortgage recording tax on the difference between the new mortgage and the seller’s existing mortgage principal.

For example, assuming that a person had a loan amount of $300,000.00, financed closing costs of $8,000.00, and a county tax rate of 2.05%, without a CEMA the loan amount of $300,000.00 x 2.05% tax rate would equate to $6,150.00 total tax. However, with CEMA, the financed closing costs of $8000.00 x 2.05% tax rate would equate to only $164.00 total tax.

What Are the Drawbacks of a CEMA?

As mentioned above, there are advantages to CEMA loans, the most important of them being you only pay the mortgage recording tax on the PUB.  

However, there are also some potential drawbacks that may make CEMA less attractive to some borrowers.  The overall goal is to save money over a traditional loan.  But these following four points could make CEMA a less desirable refinancing choice for you, especially depending on your timeline and what you’re willing to shell out for fees and other expenses (those particular to a CEMA loan):

1. It may be a good idea for you, but only if your loan amount is greater than your current one. Banks can levy a fee of $500-$1000, or a portion of the amount borrowed on a conventional loan. Your savings would depend on your county’s mortgage tax, the PUB on your current loan, and fees charged in your assignment. The assignment is charged by the paying bank and required to qualify for a CEMA. 
2. If you’re nearly done paying your current loan, a CEMA  may not be the best idea for saving money. You might think you’ll shave off a few dollars, but refinancing under CEMA may needlessly create more expenses than are necessary. The endgame is to save money.
3. A CEMA loan can take longer to process (detailed more in the next section, “CEMA vs. Refinancing”).
4. There are fees associated with a CEMA (detailed more in the next section, “CEMA vs. Refinancing”).

CEMA vs. Refinancing?

CEMA or regular refinancing:  which should you choose?  A CEMA loan can be less costly overall.  Some of the benefits of a CEMA include bypassing some of the fees associated with normal refinancing.  But on the flip side, it includes particular fees, which cover things like assignments, closing, and processing costs. These fees can add several hundred to several thousand dollars to the cost of the loan.  You have to decide if the fees are worth it in the long run.

Processing a CEMA can take longer; 

1. There are extra steps to take to satisfy CEMA rules. This could be an issue if you need to finish the loan in a shorter amount of time.  
2. There may be issues if refinancing involves two different banks.  Some institutions won’t process a CEMA loan with other outside institutions.  
3. A broken chain of title may result in other challenges to qualify for the loan .

Therefore, it may be in your best interest to look at other options. An expert can explain the pros and cons of any fees and the length of the application process with you in more detail and answer any questions you have.

How Do I Get a CEMA?

In order to start the CEMA process and transfer taxes, you should consult with an expert familiar with CEMA to determine if you qualify and if CEMA is the best option for you. Generally, however, in order to qualify for CEMA, you have to be dealing with real property, either homes or condos. This is because CEMA is only applicable where there is a mortgage recording tax, which is what CEMA is trying to avoid. Another qualification is that both the original lender and the new lender are willing to cooperate with each other and consent to the CEMA. Lastly, the seller of the property also needs to agree to the CEMA.

Since CEMA may take longer than normal to refinance, it can be a lengthy process depending upon the speed at which the bank attorney and original lender and/or their attorney are willing to cooperate. As such, it is highly recommended that you communicate your interest or desire for CEMA early on in the refinancing process. While CEMA does save you money in many cases, it’s not necessarily the quickest process. The state of New York and any previous lender must do some special signing off in order to get the mortgage and title transfers processed under CEMA regulations, allowing you to pay taxes only on the new money in the transaction rather than the full principal balance. In fact, in New York, it may take anywhere between 60 and 90 days to close your loan.

CEMA Taxes Calculated 

New York state levies a mortgage recording tax on property physically located in the state.  The NY mortgage tax is calculated for both purchases and refinancing.  

Here is how the CEMA tax is calculated and how much you can save when you pay taxes on a condo with a sale price of $750,000, a buyer loan size of $600,000, an outstanding loan principal of $500,000, and a mortgage recording tax rate of 2.175%.  

With a CEMA, you pay 1.925%, and the lender pays 0.25%.  The total buyer mortgage recording tax without a CEMA is $11,550.  The total buyer mortgage tax with a CEMA is only $1,925.  That’s a total mortgage recording tax savings of $9,625.  The Seller NYS transfer tax without a CEMA loan would be $3,000.  The Seller NYS Transfer Tax with a CEMA would be only $1,000.  That’s a savings of $2,000.  Add that to the mortgage transfer tax with a CEMA, and that adds up to a total savings of $11,625.

Call to talk with one of our CEMA loan experts.  They can walk you through the specifics of how much you could save based on the amount of your current loan.

What Happens if the CEMA Isn’t Approved?

To kickstart a CEMA application, you might have to pay an up-front fee to your current lender.  But one thing to be aware of:  the fee may be non-refundable even if the refinance isn’t completed.  So, knowing the possibility of paying money you may not get back, you decide to apply for a CEMA loan.  You go through all the necessary steps and pay all the necessary fees.  You meet all deadlines and supply all needed paperwork.  But in the end, your application for a CEMA loan is denied.  It does not mean you are out of luck.

There are several things you can do in the event your CEMA loan is denied.   Some of the easiest include the following:

1. Shop around for mortgage lenders.  Some may offer better interest rates than others.  Your existing lender may even be willing to cut you a break if you have been a loyal customer or may offer you a deal if you tell them you’re shopping around elsewhere.
2. Ask the lender about refinancing without closing costs, especially if you don’t have money up front for closing costs.  It’s an option but comes with the  caveat of possibly higher interest rates.
3. Ask the lender about cutting or waiving some or all of the fees, which include things like paying for origination, titles, credit checks, and appraisals.  Every lender charges different fees for the loans they offer.

In case your CEMA loan isn’t approved, our real estate law firm will help you realize your hope of refinancing through more traditional means.  Consult with one of our professionals on whether it’s possible to avoid paying CEMA fees or saving on taxes and other fees if a more conventional loan is the choice left to you in the event a CEMA is denied.

How Both Seller and Buyer Benefit from CEMA

Theoretically, although CEMA is supposed to save the person refinancing money on reducing the amount of their mortgage, there are fees involved. Each lender, and its respective bank attorney, will have CEMA fees. These fees vary and should be determined as early as possible in the loan application process to make it possible to make a good decision whether it makes sense to proceed. Specifically, if the payoff lender and the new lender are not the same, then that means two banks plus two attorneys equals four different fees. Typically, these fees range between $450 and $1100 each. Therefore, the total of these fees can range from $2000 to $4500. Accordingly, this total should be considered as an offset to the mortgage tax savings.

In addition, if the refinance takes place less than 10 years from the previous one, or they have owned the property (without any deed changes) for less than 10 years, the home owner qualifies for the refinance title insurance rate, which is usually less than the typical fees.

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Either way, you should consult with an experienced CEMA expert who can advise you what the probable costs would be and if CEMA is in your best interest.

FAQ

What Can a CEMA Lawyer Do To Help?

When it comes to dealing with the NYS mortgage tax, a CEMA lawyer or law firm is crucial when you are refinancing your home in New York. CEMA may help save money by significantly boosting your chances of being able to pay a lower mortgage recording tax than what you normally would. If you are refinancing or even just considering it, you need to consult with an experienced CEMA attorney to discuss the benefits and drawbacks and whether or not it is in your best interest.

The Law Office of Yuriy Moshes has the experience and knowledge to provide this for you. We are in the greater New York City area including all its boroughs, including Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island) as well as Northern New Jersey, Long Island, and Upstate New York.